With attractions as diverse as a ‘why
sharks matter’ competition, ‘the science of whisky’
and smashing a world record for firing potatoes at high
speed with a spud bazooka, the ninth New Zealand
International Science Festival has more than delivered on
its promise to ‘leave boring behind’.

The festival
featured innovative community events that helped celebrate
science and cement the reputation of Dunedin as a city of
learning and discovery. Visiting international and national
guests, leading experts and students from the University of
Otago, Otago Polytechnic, Otago Museum and many other
partner organisations led discussions, presentations and
interactive workshops across the city, with four guests
going on to give satellite events at Auckland Museum.

Over
120 events were staged during the festival, with 90% of them
being offered free. A large number of workshops designed to
appeal to all age groups were held during the nine days of
the festival. Popular events included Australian
science-show performer Dr Graham Walker, supported by Cooke
Howlison Toyota, and Dunedin’s sister city Edinburgh-based
stunt scientist Tom Pringle – otherwise known as Dr
Bunhead – supported by Mitre 10 MEGA, presenting his DIY
family event and propulsion themed Blast Off show, to
capacity crowds.

Beginning on Saturday 5 July, 2014 the
festival culminated on Sunday 13 July on the Dunedin
waterfront with a marine science day – dubbed ‘fish and
ships’ – led by the University of Otago. It included
workshops, talks by experts including Malcolm Francis from
NIWA and marine explorer Ryan Johnson, displays and hands-on
activities for all ages.

Festival director Chris Green
said that the 2014 festival was more diverse than ever
before, with an impressive line-up of international science
stars from around the globe creating a huge demand for both
free and ticketed events.

“This year’s festival saw
international scientists working with local scientists to
deliver interactive presentations – from evening talks for
students, families and adults, to hands-on events for kids,
teenagers and young professionals – to hopefully inspire
the next generation of young scientists.

We’ve reached a
wide range of audiences with an increased focus on
teenagers, working with sponsors to create location based
events, and take science to the community, with demos in the
Wall Street Mall, and kids’ workshops in libraries and
other locations around the city,” said Chris.

Festival
highlights included an evening on sustainability with
Professor Terry Collins, billed as the world’s first
‘green’ chemistry lecturer, supported by the University
of Otago and University of Auckland, Division of Sciences;
presentations by UK science communicator and brain trauma
victim James Piercy, supported by Otago Museum; and
workshops and presentations by Kiwi expat Ryan Johnson,
marine explorer, white shark scientist and National
Geographic documentary filmmaker.

Other popular sessions
were a series of ‘two-minute talks by young women in
science’ and a ‘women in science’ breakfast sponsored
by the British High Commission. Alongside the ‘science of
whisky’ and ‘great fermentations’ events for adults,
the festival hosted popular workshops for kids, teens and
families including a ‘science of sport’ night, ‘dining
in the dark’, ‘fight like a physicist’, ‘anatomy of
a crime scene investigations’, and a ‘learn about the
heart’ session. The festival was framed by a stand-out
University of Otago Science Expo on the first weekend. A
display of technology and design presented by Otago
Polytechnic and a Bio Blitz event which provided a snap shot
of life in Dunedin’s Botanic Garden and attempted to
record as many living species as possible, took place over
the final weekend.

“The hours of hard work and support from the
festival team, external event organisers, our amazing
volunteers, key funding partners and local and national
sponsors all contributed to the success of the festival,”
festival president Michele Coleman said.

The 2014 New
Zealand International Science Festival is sponsored by two
major funding partners, the University of Otago and the
Dunedin City
Council.

Ends

Background

New Zealand’s only international science
festival has developed, managed and run nine festivals in
Dunedin every two years since 1998. In addition to
presenting a wide range of events, each festival has
attracted international guests, national and local experts
and a wide range of sponsors and funders. Today, around 40
volunteers help run the various events, and thousands of
visitors from all over New Zealand and abroad participate in
festival activities.

The NZ International Science
Festival is a not-for-profit organisation which
aims:

• To promote and celebrate science, technology and
the natural environment to a wide general audience, and show
that science is exciting, fun, and accessible

• To
encourage young people to consider science, technology and
environmental studies as positive career options

• To
show the relevance of current developments in science and
technology to people’s daily lives

• To promote the
quality and achievements of New Zealand scientific
research

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